MP hits out at park sell-off

AN MP has hit out at Manchester council for refusing to abandon plans to sell off part of a park which was bequeathed to the city over a century ago. Residents in West Didsbury have raised more than 3,000 signatures in a petition against the move, which they say would be a breach of a covenant protecting Marie Louise Gardens.

AN MP has hit out at Manchester council for refusing to abandon plans to sell off part of a park which was bequeathed to the city over a century ago.

Residents in West Didsbury have raised more than 3,000 signatures in a petition against the move, which they say would be a breach of a covenant protecting Marie Louise Gardens.

The council, which has given planning permission for building on the land, maintains it falls outside the protected area.

But Lib Dem MP John Leech (pictured) has raised the matter in the House of Commons, telling MPs the council was relying on a `dodgy dossier of evidence', which he said was full of errors. And he says going ahead would set a dangerous precedent.

Mr Leech who introduced an Early Day Motion calling on the authority to drop the plans, said: "The council seems determined to go ahead with the sale, claiming the area involved is not part of the original gardens, but a maintenance depot, although photographic proof shows it is part of the gardens and therefore subject to the covenant."

Highlights

The Withington MP said the case highlights the inadequacies of covenants, which he said all too often 'are not worth the paper they are written on.' He added: "Perhaps we should wonder how much land would have been gifted to local authorities if the benefactors had realised the land would be sold to the highest bidder.

"At a time of increasing pressure to build on every available piece of land, it is vital our parkland be retained to provide quality open space."

Josephine Silkenstadt presented Marie Louise Gardens to the council in 1903 in memory of her daughter who died in 1891 aged 26.

Two members of the family who formerly owned the park - Norwegian-born Jan Silchenstedt and his wife Michelle - have joined the fight to stop the plans to sell part of it off.

Mr Silchenstedt, 62, who lives in London, says he will do everything possible to ensure the park is protected.

A council spokesman said they were still looking at the legal implications of the issue.